It is a sadly neglected field. But I'm not the first to ask. There are different theories. So it turns out that experts believe that those with a certain gene produce a digestive enzyme which breaks down the particular vegetable into various chemical compounds. One of those compounds is called methyl mercaptan, which is the same chemical which gives a skunk its defensive smell or sometimes affects wine and gives it a sulfur-like odor. Another scientist collected the pertinent pee, worked some magic on it, and concluded that the smell was due to a metabolite called methanethiol which is composed mostly of sulfur with a splash of hydrogen, plus some carbon – this is a “cocktail” famous for its smelly effect in rotten eggs and cabbage. And according to some “lab rats”, as your body metabolizes asparagus it produces this smelly chemical which your discriminating kidneys see fit to dump into the bladder. So what are we talking about here?
You knew it ASPARAGUS!?
Not Me
Are you one of those who claim “my pee doesn't smell like asparagus"? Well here is a surprise .. it’s your sense of smell! It’s been discovered that only about 40 percent surveyed responded that they can actually “detect” that they have eaten asparagus but those people still have the same reaction to it, biologically.
Steamed asparagus with Maryland soft-shell-crab
Nutrition
On to a “prettier” subect, asparagus actually belongs to the lily family and is nutritionally spectacular.
Despite the aroma producing properties, there is no reason to stop eating asparagus. It is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, rich in fiber, potassium, thiamine, vitamins A, C, and B6, and glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant. Its wealth of nutrients makes asparagus a nutritionally wise choice for a health conscious diet. A 5.3 ounce (5 stems) serving provides 60% of the recommended daily allowance for folacin which is necessary for blood cell formation, growth, and prevention of liver disease. In fact it has more folic acid than any other vegetable it has been shown to play a significant role in the prevention of neural tube defects (birth defects).
Fast Growers
Asparagus does not tolerate saturated soil conditions – it prefers really sandy soil, just a step above beach sand and its roots are about a foot deep. It is grown for 2 consecutive years and harvested in the third year. The plant needs to grow and establish a well-developed healthy crown.
Asparagus is quite productive – though you wait 3 years to harvest, once it’s time (when the spear is about 8-12 inches) it can produce 8 to 12 times during its first picking season. There may be 4-5 days between pickings during the spring (late April-May) and as the days and nights get warmer it will shoot up within 24 hours! A mature asparagus plant that is about 8-12 years old will yield up to 22 harvests. If the number of spears in a harvest drops off beyond 15 pickings, or if the spear diameter drops, the farmer may end the harvest early. The yield drops are a sign that the crown is experiencing stress. Once the season is over the farmer leaves the asparagus to grow into a fern which produces red berries and the food and nutrients necessary for healthy and productive crowns and a good crop for the next spring.
